A full PhD scholarship (approx. $18,837 p.a) is offered for a student to
complete a PhD investigating the mechanisms involved in retinal degeneration.
Students successful in gaining a Melbourne Research Scholarship or Australian
Postgraduate Award will be offered a top-up scholarship.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a hereditary form of blindness that affects around
1:5000 people. There are currently no treatments available to combat the
relentless loss of vision. This project will examine the changes that occur in
retinal glial cells and the role these cells play in remodeling the retina. This
has important implications for developing novel treatments such as retinal
prostheses, implantation of retinal tissue, or stem cell therapy.
Experimental work will involve histological and functional assays on rodent
models of retinal degeneration. The work will be conducted in the Visual
Neuroscience Laboratory within the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. However, a component of this
project could involve an international exchange.
The suitable student will be completing or have completed a Bachelor of Science
(Honours) or equivalent, or be a graduate of a health related area (eg Medicine,
dentristry, optometry). Although a detailed knowledge of vision is NOT required,
some knowledge of any one of the following areas would be desirable: Anatomical
techniques such as immunocytochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology,
biochemistry, pathology, or physiology.
For further information please contact: Dr Erica Fletcher Tel: 8344-3218; Email:
elf at unimelb.edu.au
Dr Erica Fletcher, MScOptom PhD
Senior Lecturer
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Melbourne
Grattan St
Parkville 3010
Ph: Int+61-3-8344-3218
Fax: Int+61-3-9347-5219
Email: elf at unimelb.edu.au
Website: http://www.anatomy.unimelb.edu.au/researchlabs/fletcher/index.html
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